The Era of Ultra-Long-Haul Aviation

Modern aircraft technology has made it possible to fly non-stop for nearly 20 hours, connecting cities on opposite sides of the globe. These ultra-long-haul flights represent the pinnacle of aviation engineering and passenger endurance.

Top 15 Longest Flights (2026)

1. Singapore (SIN) to New York (JFK) - 9,537 miles

Flight Time: ~18 hours 40 minutes

Airline: Singapore Airlines

Aircraft: Airbus A350-900ULR

The world's longest commercial flight, Singapore Airlines' SQ23/24 covers nearly halfway around the globe. The A350-900ULR (Ultra Long Range) was specifically designed for this route, featuring modified fuel tanks and a reduced passenger capacity for extended range.

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Search flights Singapore → New YorkSearch flights SIN → JFK

2. Doha (DOH) to Auckland (AKL) - 9,032 miles

Flight Time: ~17 hours 30 minutes

Airline: Qatar Airways

Aircraft: Boeing 777-200LR

Qatar Airways connects the Middle East to New Zealand on one of the longest routes operated by a 777.

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Search flights Doha → AucklandSearch flights DOH → AKL

3. Perth (PER) to London (LHR) - 9,009 miles

Flight Time: ~17 hours 20 minutes

Airline: Qantas

Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Qantas' "Kangaroo Route" connects Australia's west coast directly to the UK, eliminating traditional stopover points in the Middle East or Asia.

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Search flights Perth → LondonSearch flights PER → LHR

4. Melbourne (MEL) to Dallas (DFW) - 8,992 miles

Flight Time: ~17 hours 35 minutes

Airline: Qantas

Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Qantas' route from Melbourne to Texas is one of the longest trans-Pacific flights, requiring the efficient 787 Dreamliner to cover this massive distance.

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Search flights Melbourne → Dallas-Fort WorthSearch flights MEL → DFW

5. Auckland (AKL) to New York (JFK) - 8,828 miles

Flight Time: ~17 hours 40 minutes

Airline: Air New Zealand

Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Connecting New Zealand directly to the US East Coast, this route showcases the 787's impressive range capabilities.

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Search flights Auckland → New YorkSearch flights AKL → JFK

6. Dubai (DXB) to Auckland (AKL) - 8,824 miles

Flight Time: ~17 hours 15 minutes

Airline: Emirates

Aircraft: Airbus A380

Emirates' longest route connects its Dubai hub to New Zealand.

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Search flights Dubai → AucklandSearch flights DXB → AKL

7. Shenzhen (SZX) to Mexico City (MEX) - 8,782 miles

Flight Time: ~16 hours 45 minutes

Airline: Hainan Airlines

Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

One of the longest transpacific routes, connecting China directly to Mexico, this flight spans across the vast Pacific Ocean linking two major manufacturing and business hubs.

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Search flights Shenzhen → Mexico CitySearch flights SZX → MEX

8. Los Angeles (LAX) to Singapore (SIN) - 8,770 miles

Flight Time: ~17 hours 20 minutes

Airline: Singapore Airlines

Aircraft: Airbus A350-900

Connecting the US west coast to Singapore requires flying across the entire Pacific Ocean.

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Search flights Los Angeles → SingaporeSearch flights LAX → SIN

9. Houston (IAH) to Sydney (SYD) - 8,596 miles

Flight Time: ~17 hours 30 minutes

Airline: United Airlines

Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

United's longest route connects Texas to Australia's largest city, spanning the entire Pacific Ocean.

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Search flights Houston → SydneySearch flights IAH → SYD

10. New York (JFK) to Manila (MNL) - 8,520 miles

Flight Time: ~16 hours 30 minutes

Airline: Philippine Airlines

Aircraft: Airbus A350-900

Connecting New York to the Philippines, this trans-Pacific route is one of the longest flights between North America and Southeast Asia.

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Search flights New York → ManilaSearch flights JFK → MNL

11. San Francisco (SFO) to Singapore (SIN) - 8,447 miles

Flight Time: ~16 hours 50 minutes

Airline: Singapore Airlines

Aircraft: Airbus A350-900

Connecting Silicon Valley to Singapore, this trans-Pacific route serves the tech industry corridor between the US and Asia.

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Search flights San Francisco → SingaporeSearch flights SFO → SIN

12. Johannesburg (JNB) to Atlanta (ATL) - 8,439 miles

Flight Time: ~16 hours 40 minutes

Airline: Delta Air Lines

Aircraft: Airbus A350-900

The longest route between Africa and North America.

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Search flights Johannesburg → AtlantaSearch flights JNB → ATL

13. Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Los Angeles (LAX) - 8,390 miles

Flight Time: ~16 hours 35 minutes

Airline: Etihad Airways

Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Connecting the Middle East to the US West Coast requires flying over the North Pole.

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Search flights Abu Dhabi → Los AngelesSearch flights AUH → LAX

14. Perth (PER) to Paris (CDG) - 8,332 miles

Flight Time: ~17 hours 10 minutes

Airline: Qantas

Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Qantas operates this ultra-long route connecting Western Australia to the French capital, making it one of the longest routes to continental Europe.

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Search flights Perth → ParisSearch flights PER → CDG

15. Doha (DOH) to Los Angeles (LAX) - 8,306 miles

Flight Time: ~16 hours 20 minutes

Airline: Qatar Airways

Aircraft: Airbus A350-1000

Qatar's flagship A350-1000 operates this transpolar route to California.

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Search flights Doha → Los AngelesSearch flights DOH → LAX

The 15 longest flights in one map

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Technology Behind Ultra-Long Flights

These marathon flights are made possible by next-generation aircraft like the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which feature:

• Enhanced Fuel Efficiency: Composite materials reduce weight and improve range
• Better Cabin Pressure: Lower altitude pressurization reduces passenger fatigue
• Improved Air Quality: Advanced filtration systems and higher humidity
• Optimized Aerodynamics: Winglets and efficient engines maximize range

Passenger Experience

Airlines have adapted their service for these ultra-long flights:

• Multiple meal services with lighter, healthier options
• Extended entertainment libraries and Wi-Fi
• Lie-flat business class seats (premium economy on some routes)
• Wellness programs encouraging movement and hydration
• Adjusted lighting to minimize jet lag

Future of Ultra-Long-Haul

Airlines continue pushing boundaries with "Project Sunrise" routes planned for 2026-2027:

• Sydney to London direct (~20 hours)
• Sydney to New York direct (~19 hours)
• Melbourne to London direct (~19.5 hours)

The record will keep creeping up, but there is a hard ceiling: no two airports on Earth are more than about 20,000 km apart, half the way around the planet. The farthest airport finder shows how close any airport gets to that limit, and what countries will I fly over traces every country under routes like these.

Track Your Long-Haul Flights

Have you experienced any of these ultra-long flights? Add them to My Flight Routes to visualize your journey and see how far you've traveled in a single flight.